Don't Be Stumped By DVD Standards

Page 6 of 8: Compatibility Chart

That covers the basic DVD writable formats, the last point of concern is the DVD drive itself. This is the part of your computer that will actually record your data or movie onto the DVD disc. Thankfully, if you have made it this far you are almost home. The different types of DVD drives basically break down into the same formats as the DVD writable formats. Therefore, there are DVD-RAM drives, DVD-R drives etc. on down the line. It is also increasingly likely that DVD burners will come with the ability to record to more than one format, for example a manufacturer may offer a DVD+R/RW drive meaning that it can record both DVD+R and DVD+RW discs. When considering DVD media (the actual silver discs) and DVD burners, make sure that both the discs and drive are the same format. Below is a table of what types of DVD media work in different DVD drives:

Â	Living Room DVD Player	Computer DVD-R(G) Drive	Computer DVD-R(A) Drive	Computer DVD-RW Drive	Computer DVD-RAM Drive	Computer DVD+RW Drive
DVD-R(G) Discs	Usually plays	Plays and writes	Plays but does not write	Plays and usually writes	Plays	Plays
DVD-R(A) Discs	Usually plays	Plays but does not write	Plays and writes	Plays but does not write	Plays	Plays
DVD-RW Discs	Usually plays	Plays	Plays	Plays and writes	Usually plays	Usually plays
DVD+RW Discs	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Plays and writes
DVD+R Discs	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Usually plays	Plays and writes
DVD-RAM Discs	Usually does not play	Does not play	Does not play	Does not play	Plays and writes	Does not play